Lyle Campbell, The Secret History of Language. Language Change Unraveled

What are the causes of language change? Where do words come from? Is modern technology and social media corrupting our language? Language change is just as relevant today as it ever was, yet the secrets of how and why it occurs remain tantalisingly out of reach to anyone without a background in linguistics. This book has the answers. Written by one of the leading experts in the field, it provides readers with an accessible account of language change, unraveling the processes and phenomena that have so far remained locked within academia. It explores a range of fascinating topics, such as whether language change is bad, whether change is different in some kinds of languages than others, and if television, AI, and modern technology have any impact on language change. Written in a lively and engaging way, it uncovers the marvels and mysteries of language change for anyone curious about this captivating field.

• Includes both traditional and contemporary topics in language history and change, providing an overview of the field whilst also covering up-to-date topics
• Written in an engaging manner, with each topic and concept illustrated with appealing examples, making it accessible to all readers
• Offers a critical approach, frequently pointing out alternative interpretations, to help readers develop the ability to understand arguments and assess evidence

Lyle Campbell is Professor Emeritus at the University of Hawai’i Mānoa. His research specializations include historical linguistics, language documentation, America’s Indian languages, and typology. He has been awarded the LSA’s Leonard Bloomfield Book Award twice, for American Indian Languages (Oxford University Press, 2000) and Historical Syntax in Cross-linguistics Perspective (with Harris, Cambridge University Press, 1995).